by Lucy Scala
“Well, it took you a while to figure it out.”
“I was wrong.”
Was he flirting with me? No, maybe he was just trying to be nice.
“A point in your favour,” I ventured to reply.
“Tell me something about yourself.”
“What do you want to know?” I asked hesitantly.
“Whatever you want, but maybe it’s better to start from the beginning. Were you born here?”
“Yes, but I always wanted to live somewhere else,” I revealed. “One day I would love to travel the world, take a break from it all and really live. I would also love to visit the places where my grandparents grew up and where they met.” A smile took me by surprise. “My grandmother loved to tell me about her past. I think she did it so as not to forget.”
“And what stops you from dropping everything and going away?” he asked, almost in a whisper.
“A debt with the past,” I said, shaking my head. “But let’s not talk about that, let’s talk about you,” I suggested, changing the subject.
I let Diego lead the conversation, talking about his childhood, his city and his transfer to Turin.
“Not much to say. My parents are normal people who live off the land they farm. I, however, wanted something different. Always a little rebellious. I always knew that I would choose another path in life. My brother stayed in Gallipoli, he has the passion for farming to carry on the family tradition.”
“I love the rural life. I mean, life in the countryside is something magical. And also, the families of the South have always fascinated me, they have a natural enthusiasm for traditions, they are so united… And I assure you I do mean it.”
Diego nodded. “I’m lucky, my parents gave me everything, even if I have disappointed my father. He wanted me by his side to learn his craft.”
“I’m sure he must still be proud of you.”
“You’re really nice tonight, kitten! Are all these compliments due to the wine?”
“Probably, we’ve already finished a bottle of red.”
“Then I was right to come by, maybe I’ll find out something interesting about you. Something you don’t want to tell me,” he said, with a wink.
“Oh, I see. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you’ll not discover any more than I wish to reveal,” I said, pouring some more red wine into the glasses.
“I never said I was disappointed.” Diego’s voice choked.
“I don’t think your girlfriend will be happy to know these things,” I said to deflect the conversation.
Diego grinned. “I’ve already told you. There is no girlfriend on the horizon,” he answered quickly. “The one I had, I broke up with. I needed my space, you know what I mean.”
“Not really, but I’m not going to discuss that because I’ll risk damaging your male pride. Can I ask you a question?”
“Whatever you want, but it doesn’t mean that I’ll answer everything. If I answered some of your queries then we would start all over again, and you won’t be satisfied until you know everything about me.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin and watched me.
I burst into a laugh. “You’re incredible, you come here to apologize and try to do the same thing you did at the clinic again?” I gave him a hard stare.
“I get the impression that you would be pleasant company.”
“Do you think you’re funny? It wouldn’t be the beginning of a nice collaboration if I went to bed with you,” I said.
“There’s no need to make me feel guilty,” he added.
“It’s not part of your nature.”
“You’re too hard, how long has it been since you last had sex?”
“And since when have you had that broomstick up your…? Don’t worry, honey. No one will ever beat your half-day record,” I replied, ruthless.
“I can do better, it depends on my work schedule.”
“I see, so I’m only a challenge for you?” Diego stiffened at the tone of my voice. “Of course not!”
“No?”
“No,” he repeated firmly. “Seriously, Mia. I like you, I can’t deny it. You’re different from the others and it’s disorientated me. I don’t know how to explain it to you…” I tried to maintain a stern expression, masking a weak smile. Without wanting to, I even let out a slight sigh. “Different in what way?” I challenged him.
“I’ve never been good with words. You mystify me, there… With the others this doesn’t happen to me.” Diego bent his head slightly to the side.
“Are you making a fool of me? Listen to me, you can’t come and tell me I’m different and then treat me exactly like all the others.”
“See, I’m right? My presence makes you uncomfortable just because you’re obliged to confront a man. I can read it in your face, you’re just fighting against yourself.”
I mumbled something, shocked.
“What’s up?”
“It’s late, I think it’s better if you leave.”
“Bullshit.”
“No, I’m telling you myself.” I smiled, satisfied.
“Are we arguing?”
Diego stared at me for a few seconds and, seeing no afterthought on my behalf, he stood up.
I started to open the front door, but he stopped me. His eyes were staring into mine. “Please, come on, don’t be like that.”
“What do you want, Diego? We’re good. You wanted to apologize, and you did. I thank you for the flowers and for the company, but that’s it.”
“I don’t understand why you always have to be so controlled,” he insisted, stubbornly.
I glanced around nervously.
“I don’t want to continue this conversation. You’re not the type of man I plan to date, or get to know better. Neither today, nor ever. However, if you want, we can be friends. It might be a good compromise for our jobs,” I said, trying to convey a serious tone.
“I’m sorry, I thought that…”
“Ok, it doesn’t matter,” I interrupted.
“All clear. Good night,” and he slammed the door, hard. It was evidently a habit of his.
A few seconds later I heard shouting outside. “I forgot my jacket.”
“Fresh air will help you think better.” I breathed a sigh of relief.
*
I was about to go to bed when I noticed the display of my phone blinking.
I grabbed the phone, slipped under the sheets, covering my head and curled up on one side as I did as a child, whenever someone knocked on the door and I wanted to hide away from the light.
I touched the screen. Wow, it was Alberto, just as I had hoped.
I’m a little out of practice with these things.
I wondered if you wanted to go out for dinner with me, just you and me.
I stared at that message for a long time, convinced that it was the beginning of something. What was most enjoyable; knowing that I had a knight ready to court me or getting back that carefree feeling that I hadn’t felt for so long? Less than two minutes later, he sent me another text. I decided that the wait could end and began tapping on the screen to reply.
His answer was not long in coming.
How about Friday at eight?
I’ll surprise you.
Alberto was a charming man, poised and with a responsible job. He had all the right attributes, he could give me the security I needed. And I was looking for stability, and I wanted to fall in love again.
I tried to follow Fiamma’s advice and go back to trusting the male gender.
At that moment, however, the memory of Diego and his expression resurfaced in my mind. He seemed sincere and sorry. But he was just a distraction that had nothing to do with my life.
I lay still, cradled by the silence of my house, and closed my eyes.
Soon, I fell asleep.
*
The afternoon turned out to be more tedious and time consuming than I had expected. I had too many things on my mind and my concentration was poor.
I left all the more cha
llenging tasks to my colleagues and devoted myself to the dogs and cats seeking adoption.
Our clinic, as well as rescuing mistreated animals, provided all the necessary treatment for them and took care of the adoptions. We could count on a group of volunteers who came in to help every day. They fed the animals, cleaned their cages and took them for walks outdoors. They were excellent and very conscientious.
“Good morning, Mia.” A shrill female voice demanded my attention.
I turned round. It was Alberto’s mother. I feigned enthusiasm. “Good morning. Everything all right?” I asked.
“Of course, can’t you see I’m in great shape?” she exclaimed, pointing to her body.
I nodded slightly, although to be honest, she looked much thinner than the last time I saw her, almost wasted. “What do I owe your visit to? Are the dogs doing well?”
“Yes dear. They are fine, although a check up wouldn’t hurt. Anyway, today I’m here for other reasons,” she said, winking.
I looked at her, confused. “Which are?”
“What do you mean ‘which are’? My son, Alberto!” she said with a smile. “He told me so much about you and the dinner with your family. What fantastic news, I always had a thing for you!” she exclaimed excitedly.
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? I hope he didn’t tell you everything… Anyway, I just met Alberto, and at the moment, it seems that you brought him up very well.” I concluded politely. The truth was simple: I had only just started going out with Alberto and I didn’t want to mislead his mother.
“I don’t want to sound nosy. Alberto is a good guy and I would love to see him with a woman like you,” she pointed out. “Now I have to run, my husband is waiting for me in the car. I’ll come round next week, see you soon,” she waved as she went, leaving an invisible trail of her sweet-smelling, almost sickening perfume in the air.
That visit had disconcerted me. I couldn’t stand another intrusive mother, one was quite enough.
I put the files on my desk in order and filed the adoption forms: last week we were able to find a family for two dogs we had kept in the clinic for a long time. Their moment had arrived, although saying ‘goodbye’ to them was painful every time, for each animal that found a home, another would be coming in.
“Mia, I bring you good news!” exclaimed Fiamma, beaming, as she entered the office. She was waving x-rays and printed sheets in the air.
“Tell me it’s what I think it is,” I said hopefully.
She nodded and sat down next to me. “Look, the blood tests,” she announced. “The fracture and the wounds are on the mend and today, for the first time, Antonio was able to take her for a walk in the garden,” she continued, with a happy sigh. “She put up no resistance and did her business outdoors. Isn’t that fantastic?” she smiled.
I felt much better. The little dog I had found abandoned in a shed was recovering very quickly. I knew she was strong and that she would make it.
I looked at the papers and the results of the blood tests were truly perfect. I smiled smugly. “Soon we will find her a home, I’m sure. She’s a beautiful dog, young and full of energy. Of course, we must assess any psychological damage, but I want to be confident. I don’t think she’s an aggressive dog, but—”
Antonio burst into the room, surprising us. “Girls, coffee?”
“Damn you, Antonio! Are you crazy? You’ll give us a heart attack!” exclaimed Fiamma jumping up from her chair. “At least let us know you’ve arrived.”
“You’re so sour!” said Antonio, putting two cups of steaming coffee on the desk.
“It’s you, you’re stupid,” challenged my friend, pointing her finger at him.
Antonio grabbed her hand and, without looking away, stamped a kiss on her lips. “You’re more beautiful when you’re angry.”
“And you’re just an idiot,” she said with a half smile.
It didn’t seem like the kiss had annoyed her that much.
“Hey, guys, calm down, not here,” I ventured with a smile. “I’m not ready to see certain things yet,” I added, amused.
Antonio gave me a little nudge. “Oh shut up, you dream about them with that policeman.”
Fiamma instantly gave him a withering glance. I merely ignored the gaze focussed on me.
The bell informed us that someone was needed at reception.
“You go, Fiamma. I’ll take care of the dogs,” I said, putting on scrubs and placing the cup on the desk.
I went down the corridor and walked quickly towards the cage with the young pit bull, I pulled the safety latch and opened the cage.
Before I knew what was happening, I found myself receiving an enthusiastic welcome. Her tail beat against the wall and her wet tongue licked my hand, hoping to receive the meaty biscuit I held between my fingers.
I had a moment of inspiration.
“Happy. I will call you Happy,” I repeated, stroking her brown coat.
Happy looked at me and raised her ears. Yes, she liked her new name.
“You’re a beautiful little dog, you know? If Bubu saw you, he would go mad.”
She was young and would easily get over her terrible ordeal. I looked at her in silence for a few minutes, her eyes were full of infinite sweetness. Expressive and intelligent.
“How could they have done this to you?” I asked, more to myself than to her. “Look at you, you haven’t got anything aggressive about you,” I thought, continuing to stroke her curious nose.
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I looked at the name on the display and my good mood vanished instantly: it was my mother. After a while I answered it.
“Mia, Mia!” she was apparently in the grip of hysteria.
I moved the phone a little further away from my ear. “Breathe, Mummy. What’s happened? What’s wrong?” I asked, worried.
“What do you mean ‘What’s wrong’? Can’t a mother call her daughter?”
“Yes, sure. It just seems so strange—”
I couldn’t finish my sentence before she confirmed my theory.
“Why do you always have to embarrass us? Isn’t Alberto enough for you?” she asked argumentatively.
“Alberto? I don’t understand…” I said no more. In my mind the pieces of the puzzle began to connect. I already knew what she was going to tell me.
“Why among all the possible daughters in the world, did I have to end up with such a dumb one? Why do you hate me so much? Tell me, and I’ll deal with it,” she added. “What’s wrong with Alberto? He’s rich, intelligent and a charming man. What else are you looking for?” she pronounced the final sentence with contempt.
I was tempted to get hold of a cage, shut my mother up inside it and abandon her at the zoo. Why was she only interested in my love life? As if I couldn’t live without a man beside me.
I held the phone to my ear to make sure I had really heard her properly. I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms. I tried to remain calm so as not to hurt myself.
“I love you too, Mum. Alberto did nothing wrong, the problem isn’t him. It’s you. When will you stop treating me like I’m a nothing?” I asked, angry and offended. “When will you learn to look beyond the money and figure out who your daughter really is and what she wants?” I went on, my voice trembling. “You always put my sister on a pedestal, just because she’s married to a puppet full of money, and her only concern is to have more clothes than her friends.” I spat the words out with all the anger I had.
My mother was silent for a few seconds. “It’s not true. For me you are equal, I only want the best for both of you. I didn’t want this life for you.”
I looked up at the sky.
“Here we go again! You know what? What I have now is all I ever wanted. If my grandparents were still alive they would be happy for me. They supported my choices, always. I’m sorry, Mum, sometimes you’re so petty. Goodbye.”
I put the phone down. Happy was lying next to me, her eyes staring at me. She looked worried and scared,
so I hugged her gently.
It was animals like her that gave me the confidence to be who I was. Without them I would feel lost.
Happy merely laid her muzzle on my legs. She didn’t need words, that simple gesture was enough.
“Can I come in?” Fiamma asked, poking her head into the room.
“Come in, I was waiting for you. I was reflecting on the activities for the hospital and a few possible candidates to take.”
A smile flickered on Fiamma’s lips. “Let’s get to work.”
We spent the next several hours finalizing a plan. We had to find two dogs suitable for the purpose, well behaved and obedient, not fearful and capable of making the children genuinely happy. One would be Bubu but the other was yet to be chosen.
I put my pen down on the notebook, I rolled my sleeves up and stared into the distance trying to organize my ideas. I started drumming my foot on the floor, as I did when I was impatient or looking for a solution. Now I knew what I had to do.
I crossed the hall briskly, pushed the door open and entered the room where all the cages were.
A three months old puppy, who had been abandoned a few nights earlier in front of the clinic, began to howl and the other dogs joined him in a deafening chorus of yelps and barks. I had to calm the situation down quickly.
I re-assured the puppy, taking him into my arms, and holding him against my chest. Instead of squirming to escape, he headed straight for my face and began licking me incessantly.
“So, have you found the second candidate?” asked Fiamma through the doorway.
I shook my head. “Not yet, but I’m considering all possibilities.”
With a pencil in hand, Fiamma scaled the various barriers and knelt beside the door to Casper’s cage. “What do you think of him?” she asked, pointing at him.
I walked over for a better view. I was unconvinced. “Do you really think so?” I asked seriously. Casper watched us, sitting with his head slightly tilted, as if he too, was thinking.
“Why not? Casper is a very good dog, we tested him and he proved to be patient and well behaved. He doesn’t have any aggressive tendencies. He could be perfect for the job.” Fiamma stood up and smiled.